Waterbound Love - Chapter 4

She moved slightly, but the deep-seated pain in her bones still made cold sweat stream down her face. Old Liu really meant business.

The reporters were relentless. A mob had been outside her building for days, shouting persistently. Du Bai thought, shout all you want. Annoy me enough, and I’ll feed you all idle tales.

Turning on her computer, Du Bai braced herself but still felt a pang of sadness. Her past efforts and the people she once revered had turned into her most deranged critics. Human nature, it seemed. At least Lian Yinyun wasn’t around to witness this mess.

She gazed at her wrist, wondering if she would feel the warmth of her blood if it flowed out and dripped from her fingertips. Would its color sting her eyes like her warmth once did?

Du Bai frowned as she looked at Shen Yan and Wei Jia standing side by side in the doorway. “Shen Yan, don’t disappoint me, will you?”

That afternoon, Du Bai felt dazed, watching Wei Jia’s tearful confessions with cold detachment. Wei Jia talked about how Sisi had driven Lian Yinyun away, how they had seen medical records in the hospital, and how the events at Somn had provoked her. Despite her words, Du Bai could see through her facade.

Du Bai’s laugh was pure yet sinister. “You’d better head back now. Come back tomorrow. I have important matters to resolve today.”

Wei Jia turned pale at Du Bai’s words but then thought about it. At least she had another chance to see him tomorrow. Her eyes betrayed a gleam of anticipation before she left reluctantly.

Du Bai watched her leave, amusement clear on her face.

“Shen Yan, you know, don’t you?” Her voice was almost a whisper, as if trying to ignore the harsh reality. But Shen Yan heard her. Furious, she punched Du Bai hard in the face.

Du Bai chuckled softly, wiping the blood from her lips with her thumb. Damn, she thought. I’ve been getting hit a lot lately without fighting back. Shen Yan, of all people, should know you don’t hit someone in the face.

Shen Yan, even more infuriated by Du Bai’s nonchalant attitude, hit her again. Du Bai let her, thinking, luckily, I can take a hit.

Growing up, Du Bai had always been mischievous. Her father would often resort to military discipline, which turned Du Bai into someone resilient and sturdy, almost impervious.

As Shen Yan grew tired, she panted, “Next time, don’t you dare hide things from me. I have to clean up your messes.”

Shen Yan knew that talking more now would only make things awkward between them.

“No need to clean up; time will let this be forgotten. Forgotten with me, my glory and shame, and those once-admired paintings.”

Listening to Du Bai’s desolate tone made Shen Yan want to cry, hating the unfairness of it all and Du Bai’s defeatist attitude. Though she had done nothing significant, this accumulating secrecy felt like a mistake born from selfishness.

“Don’t worry. After today, you can walk out with your head held high,” Shen Yan said, regaining her composure.

Du Bai was taken aback. “What did you do?” she asked, grabbing Shen Yan’s collar tightly.

“I arranged for a report about you, combining it with your medical records to clarify everything to the public.”

This was the most honest and effective solution. They should be celebrating, but Du Bai erupted in fury instead. “Who asked you to do this? I’d rather be pelted with rotten eggs than let that damn report see the light of day. Shut it down, don’t let it get published…”

Shen Yan’s temper, which she had barely contained, flared up at these words. She slammed the table. “Do you think I did this for fun? The report is already out, and we can’t suppress it.” Tears of stubborn defiance streamed down her face as she turned her head away to avoid Du Bai’s gaze.

Du Bai buried her face in her hands, slumping into the sofa. Her demeanor resembled fallen cherry blossoms, a poignant solitude that one hesitates to disturb-so clean, so transparent, and seemingly fragile.

“I know you’re trying to help, but you don’t understand me. I’m not that strong. I’d rather most people believe I’m a thief while a few hold steadfast faith in me, than be surrounded by pity. It takes immense courage to accept that I can’t continue painting, but these constant stares remind me relentlessly that my eyesight is failing. Red feels like a blade in my vision; focusing on details too long makes me temporarily blind, sometimes even faint. This is a nightmare I can’t escape, intruding on every aspect of my life. How am I supposed to carry on acting like everything’s normal?”

Shen Yan would never forget that afternoon. She hugged Du Bai tightly, sobbing uncontrollably, shedding all pretense. That afternoon, her ignorance of Du Bai’s plight had caused her pain. That afternoon, their hearts were close, yet without a hint of ambiguity. It was an amalgamation of agony, beauty, and regret.

But that very afternoon’s scene and words were witnessed by a pair of ambitious eyes they hadn’t noticed, setting the stage for inevitable hurt and betrayal.

Some things were destined to cause pain, foreseen yet unavoidable.

Du Bai’s personality seemed to have retreated into itself, making her even more reclusive. She rarely left the house, often staring at her hands, imagining the feeling of blood flowing out of her body. Occasionally, she would gaze at the never-wilting sunflower on her desk. It felt like she couldn’t leave just yet-she still hadn’t seen that sunflower bask in the glow of true happiness.

That sunflower-like warm woman, Lian Yinyun.

Wei Jia came by every day, speaking with Du Bai, tidying up the place, and keeping her company in her silent reveries. Wei Jia’s patience seemed as unyielding as the Great Wall-sturdy and unwavering.

Watching Du Bai grow thinner each day, Wei Jia sometimes felt a pang of guilt, but it was fleeting, like a shooting star that vanishes without leaving a trace in the sky.

“Du Bai, can we talk?” Wei Jia choked out, facing Du Bai on the sofa. “Please, don’t be like this. Talk to me, won’t you?”

Wei Jia tried hard to ignore Du Bai’s silence, just as Du Bai was ignoring her. “I know whatever I say might not get through to you right now, but you can’t keep sinking like this. You have people who care about you, and you need to be strong to protect them.”

“Only strength can protect? To protect… her.” Du Bai muttered, repeating the words. Her repetition gave Wei Jia a glimmer of hope. “Didn’t you promise me a wish? I want to use it now to ask you to pull yourself together.”

Wei Jia’s heart raced as she spoke. She was taking a gamble-a gamble on the fleeting emotions of someone lost in prolonged despair. The odds were slim, but it was all she could do, hoping against hope that it would work.

Du Bai looked up at her, her gaze too deep for Wei Jia to decipher. With a captivating smirk, she lazily replied, “Is that all?” Her nonchalant tone filled Wei Jia with an overwhelming sense of pressure.

“What?”

Du Bai continued smiling, but her slightly narrowed eyes betrayed no hint of warmth. “Is that enough to satisfy you? Don’t you want to be my girlfriend?” Before Wei Jia could respond, Du Bai interjected, “You only have one chance. I don’t like liars, and I have no patience for cat-and-mouse games.” She lit a cigarette, holding it between her middle and ring fingers, as if trying to warm the coldness at her fingertips.

Wei Jia bit her lip, clearly wrestling with a decision. Finally, she spoke, and Du Bai sneered, thinking how easily women succumb to temptation.

Since that day, Wei Jia seemed to gain Du Bai’s tacit approval to move in, taking on the role of a housewife-doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, and trying to make her happy. Du Bai, with her mild obsession for cleanliness, used to have a maid come regularly. But once Wei Jia arrived, Du Bai let the maid go, having Wei Jia clean the house twice a day. It kept her busy and away from troubling Du Bai.

Du Bai led a tranquil life, rarely leaving the house. After the first day, she never again made the unusual gesture of personally driving Wei Jia to school.

Du Bai knew that her actions that day had caused a rift between Sisi and Wei Jia, spurring Sisi to retaliate. Her own indifference had only fueled Sisi’s arrogance. Seeing Wei Jia now was like watching someone on a power trip, revealing nothing of their former friendship.

When Shen Yan found out about Du Bai and Wei Jia, she seemed momentarily annoyed but quickly shifted to a mysterious gaze that made Wei Jia uncomfortable. Du Bai observed all this like a detached spectator, devoid of emotion. This game, she thought, everyone might as well play together.

Despite having heating indoors, Wei Jia often dressed lightly. This had started after Shen Yan’s last visit. What had Shen Yan said to her? Du Bai didn’t know, but she imagined it must have been interesting. Today she wore pink-should Du Bai kindly remind her that she despised such an affected color? It seemed Wei Jia wanted to skip the preliminaries and rush straight to third base or even hit a home run today. Her lack of patience suggested she was dealing with something pressing.

The ringing phone abruptly shattered the pink allure.

“I’m heading out and won’t be back tonight. Go to bed early,” Du Bai told Wei Jia firmly.

Wei Jia bit her lip, anxiety filling her eyes. Time was running out. She grasped Du Bai’s sleeve, tears brimming. “Can you stay with me? I’m alone here, and I’m a bit scared.”

Du Bai sighed internally but didn’t waver. Experience had taught her not to engage when things seemed too eager. The later developments were often more intriguing that way. “Tinna and Shen Yan are waiting for me. If you’re scared, why not ask Sisi to keep you company?”

Du Bai wouldn’t let anyone hold her back. Wei Jia’s face turned pale, her reluctance evident, as she let go.

Raising an eyebrow, Du Bai thought Wei Jia was quick to react. Things were starting to get interesting.

At Somn, Tinna kept urging her to drink. Du Bai leaned on her hand, watching quietly, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the counter-a laziness that was strangely captivating. She knew Tinna’s fiery personality would soon break the silence.

Sure enough, Tinna burst out, “Du Bai, you’re so composed, not even curious about what I’m up to, while you sit here flirting. Don’t forget, Somn doesn’t do outside business. Stop acting like the main attraction and stirring up emotions everywhere.”

“Natural charm, captivating eyes, empty of feelings yet seemingly full,” Du Bai replied, twirling a clear glass in her slender, pale hand under the lights, momentarily dazzling Shen Yan.

“Fine, since you won’t ask, I’ll tell you. Congratulations are in order-I’m engaged.”

Tinna’s intoxicated announcement of a bombshell left Du Bai frowning. She looked at Shen Yan, who gave a subtle nod. Understanding, Du Bai asked for a glass, and the three began drinking, seemingly treating the alcohol like water.

Three people, each with their own concerns, sharing drinks from the same glass-what kind of scene was this? What punishment awaits the ones responsible for creating such a scenario?

As Du Bai tilted her head back to drink, a trace of coldness flickered through her partly closed eyes.